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Players Still Learning 'Positive' Berhalter

By: Adam Jardy

The Columbus Dispatch - February 07, 2014 09:28 AM

In the days and weeks after Gregg Berhalter was hired, Crew players got to know the offseason
side of their new coach and sporting director. When preseason training began in late January, they
were introduced to Berhalter, the leader.

Yesterday afternoon in Bradenton, Fla., they met a third side of their coach: game-day
Berhalter.

“He was a very calming influence, very supportive on the sideline,” said goalkeeper Matt
Lampson,
who played
the first half of the Crew’s 1-0 win against Swedish side Malmo FF. “He wanted you to play. He
knows that mistakes will happen within a game and he’s fine with that, as long as you’re not doing
them constantly. He knew that this was our first game playing together so he expected our
shortcomings but he was very pleased with what was going on. He’s a very cerebral guy. He has
everything thought out and I think he’s pleased with what he’s seen so far.”

In the game, Berhalter played one group of 11 players for the first half before substituting an
entirely different lineup for the second half, which meant that several players on the roster still
did not see action. Although the coach said he wanted to win, the biggest goal for the day was to
see how the team had absorbed what the coaching staff had been preaching for the first part of the
preseason.

Although the action was a little rusty at times, midfielder Justin Meram said the overall
feedback from Berhalter was encouraging.

“He’s an intense coach, but extremely positive,” he said. “I think that’s what we all like the
most. I think at first we weren’t sure how he is when it comes to games but he’s extremely
positive, which is very nice compared to years past. It’s great, constructive criticism, which is
something that we need. They know when it’s time to yell and I think it was really good. Not just
myself but a lot of the guys have been impressed with the new staff.”

Berhalter has said that this first portion of the preseason has been about installing the team’s
offensive ideals. The defense will come in the next few weeks. But when asked to describe how
Berhalter wants the Crew to play, Lampson used a word that applies to the entire field.

“The best word that I could use is positive, and what I mean by that is whenever you have a
chance to go forward you should be going forward,” he said. “That’s as opposed to a possession game
where you’re trying to beat the opponent down with a thousand passes. We want to keep the ball – we
do. It’s not like we’re just going to recklessly throw the ball forward, but he wants us having
penetrating passes every time we get the chance he wants us going forward. He wants us to play
quickly.”

A new guy in charge has also meant a different type of preseason competition.

“Competition is competition,” Meram said. “It’s like any other year, right? You have no idea
what the reasoning behind things are, but whatever it is you have to do it whether you’re playing
or you’re not even dressing. We’re all pros. I think that’s a good thing. I feel like in years past
guys could mess up 100 times but they’re still out there on the field. I think with a new coach and
a new system, every week you’re going to have to fight for that spot. That’s the way it should
be."

Friday is the Crew’s final day in Bradenton before the club returns to Columbus and resumes its
preseason Monday before leaving Feb. 16 to take part in the Disney Pro Soccer Classic. While there,
the Crew will play in at least four games during the final tune-up before the March 8 season opener
at D.C. United.

With this portion of the preseason coming to a close, Lampson said he likes what the Crew has
accomplished so far.

“First and foremost, I think we’re getting fit,” he said. “I’d say this is some of the fittest
we’ve been as a Crew team in quite some time. We’re just slowly getting to know what we’re expected
and fitness. Once we continue in Orlando, I think when we’re playing games regularly we’re really
going to be able to come together as a team, especially with the style of play that we have. I
think this first stretch is just getting to know each other, getting our wheels rolling and I think
that’s exactly what we’ve accomplished.

“I think you saw snippets of (how Berhalter wants us to play) in our preseason game, but I think
as we continue to work on it and our chemistry as a team starts to really meld, I think Orlando is
going to be a great crucible to see where we really developed as a team.”